Ravena note.pdf
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Dear Ravena Water Customer: This notice is to advise our customers that our water system is in noncompliance with the drinking water standard for total haloacetic acids (HAAs). Although ttris is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what has happened and what the Village is doing to correct the situation. The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and New York State Health Departuent have set a maximum allowable limit for HAAs in drinking water at 60 micrograms qer_liter (ug/L). The HAA compliance value is calculated by averaging the water sampling results over the last four quarters. Recent testing has resulted in Ravena's average increasing to 61.1 uglL. What are haloacetic acids (HAAs)? HAAs are formed in drinking water during fieatnaent by chlorine (the most commonly used disinfectant in New York State), which reacts with certain acids that are in naturally-occurring organic material (e.g., decomposing vegetation such as tree leaves, algae, or other aquatic plants) in surface water sources such as rivers and lakes. The amount of HAAs in drinking water can change from day to day, depending on the temperature, the amount of organic material in the water, the amount of cblorine adde& and a variety of other factors. Drinking water is disinfected by public water suppliers to kill bacteria and viruses that could cause serious illnesses. For this reason, disinfection of drinking water by chlorination is beneficial to public health. Some studies suggest that people who drank chlorinated drinking water containing disinfection by-products (possibly including FIAAs) for long periods of time (e.g., 20 to 30 years) have an increased risk for certain health effects. These include an increased risk for cancer. However, how long and how frequently people actually drank the water as well as how much FIAAs the water contained is not known for certain. Therefore, the evidence from tlese studies is not strong enough to conclude that the observed increased risk for cancer is due to HAAs, other disinfection ta-protu@Studiesof laboraroryanimds showtffiindividmfHAAs, -- dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid, can cause cancer following exposure to high levels over their lifetimes. Dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid are also known to cause other effects in laboratory anirnals after high levels of exposure, primarily on the liver, kidney, and nervous system and on their ability to bear healthy offspring. The effects reported in studiss of laboratory animals occur at exposures much higher than exposures that could result through normal use of the water. The risks for adverse health effects from HAAs in drinking water are small compared to the risk for illness from drinking inadequatelv disinfected water. What does this mean for you? At present, the water is suitable to drink, cook with, and bath in. Some people may wish to take additional practical measures to reduce their exposure. We do not consider these measures necessary to avoid health effects, but they are provided as options. These include using bottled
Transcript of Ravena note.pdf
Dear Ravena Water Customer:
This notice is to advise our customers that our water system is in noncompliance with thedrinking water standard for total haloacetic acids (HAAs). Although ttris is not an emergency, asour customers, you have a right to know what has happened and what the Village is doing tocorrect the situation.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and New York State Health Departuenthave set a maximum allowable limit for HAAs in drinking water at 60 micrograms qer_liter(ug/L). The HAA compliance value is calculated by averaging the water sampling results overthe last four quarters. Recent testing has resulted in Ravena's average increasing to 61.1 uglL.
What are haloacetic acids (HAAs)?
HAAs are formed in drinking water during fieatnaent by chlorine (the most commonly useddisinfectant in New York State), which reacts with certain acids that are in naturally-occurringorganic material (e.g., decomposing vegetation such as tree leaves, algae, or other aquatic plants)in surface water sources such as rivers and lakes. The amount of HAAs in drinking water canchange from day to day, depending on the temperature, the amount of organic material in thewater, the amount of cblorine adde& and a variety of other factors. Drinking water is disinfectedby public water suppliers to kill bacteria and viruses that could cause serious illnesses. For thisreason, disinfection of drinking water by chlorination is beneficial to public health.
Some studies suggest that people who drank chlorinated drinking water containing disinfectionby-products (possibly including FIAAs) for long periods of time (e.g., 20 to 30 years) have anincreased risk for certain health effects. These include an increased risk for cancer. However,how long and how frequently people actually drank the water as well as how much FIAAs thewater contained is not known for certain. Therefore, the evidence from tlese studies is not strongenough to conclude that the observed increased risk for cancer is due to HAAs, other disinfectionta-protu@Studiesof laboraroryanimds showtffiindividmfHAAs, --dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid, can cause cancer following exposure to high levelsover their lifetimes. Dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid are also known to cause othereffects in laboratory anirnals after high levels of exposure, primarily on the liver, kidney, andnervous system and on their ability to bear healthy offspring. The effects reported in studiss oflaboratory animals occur at exposures much higher than exposures that could result throughnormal use of the water. The risks for adverse health effects from HAAs in drinking waterare small compared to the risk for illness from drinking inadequatelv disinfected water.
What does this mean for you?
At present, the water is suitable to drink, cook with, and bath in. Some people may wish to takeadditional practical measures to reduce their exposure. We do not consider these measuresnecessary to avoid health effects, but they are provided as options. These include using bottled
*ater flor drinliing and cooking puryoses, or using w&ter pitchers containing an actirzated carbon
filter or a tap-mounted actiyatedcarbon fiiter. Tirese filters are readily available in rnany grocer\i
and home imprgyement stores. Ventiiating batll'oom areas (e.g." using exhaust fans or opening
*,indows) u,he1 showering or bathing can also help reduce exposures from chemicais released
into tire air.
The water treatment plant operators are changing cedain water treatment processes to reduce the
formation of HAAs. The water department isltsi examining what changes might be made in the
water distribution system to minimize HAAs. In addition, the Village has contacted ourconsulting engineer for expert advice.
For additionai information, you may wish to review the information in the links to the US EPAand US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding HAAs:
We value you as a customer and we are committed to addressing these issues as expeditiously as
practicable. If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free tocontact our offrce at (5 1 S) I ie-ZaZq or the A1bany County Health Department at (518) 447'4620.
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